Experiments of ignition delay times on 2,4,4-trimethy1-1-pentene were performed behind reflected shock waves at pressure ranging from 2 atm to 10 atm, at equivalence ratios from 0.5 to 2.0, and with fuel concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%. All ignition delay times follow the Arrhenius rule, and discussions on the effect of pressure, temperature, equivalence ratio and fuel concentration on ignition delay times were made. Metcalfe model overpredicts the ignition reactivity of 2,4,4-trimethyl-l-pentene, and this model was modified to achieve better agreement for measured ignition delay times. Sensitivity analysis and reaction pathway analysis were conducted to gain a deep insight into 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene ignition chemistry. The ignition delay time is sensitive to the small-radical reactions. In addition, H abstraction reactions and unimolecular decomposition reactions dominate the ignition process. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.